bechamel

Sometimes you rediscover a childhood favorite completely by accident. I was sitting in my dining room, surrounded by hundreds of cookbooks, thinking about what I was going to cook on an upcoming trip to France when one book beckoned me over. It had been a while since I read Anne Willan’s comprehensive cookbook ‘The Country Cooking of France’. As I flipped through the pages, it felt like I was looking through a cherished family album of childhood dishes, I stopped on one, her version of the French family classic, endive and ham gratin. It evoked vivid memories of my own mother making this dish for me as a small child. I was transported to our old kitchen painted a beautiful hue of orange with hand painted blue tiles covering the floor. I savored the wonderful smells of my mother cooking, especially when the gratin was in the oven.

Endive and ham gratin is the macaroni and cheese of kids with French parents. I found myself licking my lips and decided to make this creamy gratin for my son just like my mom did , with just a bit too much sauce and crispy cheese melted on on the sides.

At Thanksgiving dinner, the roasted turkey or ham take center stage, but, truth be told, it's those favorite side dishes that really add spice and interest to the meal. Enhance the fun by picking tasty, intriguing wines to match both the succulent, savory main course and the side dishes' diverse ... ... See more

Why Pistou and Pastis?

Pistou is a very simple, rustic soup made with whatever is at hand, and evokes the very spirit of Provence in every bite. There is no one single recipe to adhere to, rather it is a joyous celebration of whatever is in season and inspires you to share your table with friends.

Pastis, on the other hand, is an integral part of daily life that encourages laughter and merriment, and fuels our imagination on dreary Pacific Northwest days when we are at home dreaming of lavender, laughter and golden sunsets.

We hope Pistou and Pastis acts as a metaphor to inspire home cooks to be more free and fearless in the kitchen, and to use the seasons like other people use cookbooks.

Week by week, we will share beautiful dishes made with what what we found at the farmers market. Sometimes the pastis will inspire a long dialogue, other times simply a great recipe quickly posted to share. Foods that profoundly touch your soul, are one of the many treasures of life.